This morning, I found myself thinking about a simple question. Not the complicated questions of health, nutrition, calories, carbohydrates, protein, supplements, or the latest wellness trend. Just a simple question,
"What do you want for dinner?"
It's a question many of us ask every day.
Yet lately, I've noticed something interesting. More and more people are talking about "food noise"—that constant chatter in the mind about food. Thoughts about what to eat, what not to eat, what we should eat, what we shouldn't eat, cravings, restrictions, guilt, discipline, and control.
Food Has Become a Battleground
For some, food is the enemy.
For others, food is temptation.
For many, food is something to fear.
But what if we've forgotten another way to think about food?
What if food was never meant to be noise at all?
What if food were meant to be nourishment?
The Question That Changes Everything
This morning, I wondered how differently we might respond if the question were slightly different.
Instead of asking:
"What do you want for dinner?"
What if we asked:
"What do you feel like having for dinner?"
The first question often leads to:
"I don't care."
"Whatever you want."
"Anything is fine."
But the second question invites imagination.
"Oh, spaghetti and meatballs sounds wonderful."
"I could really go for chicken soup."
"I've been craving my grandmother's pot roast."
The question awakens memory.
And memory awakens connection.
Food Tells Stories
Perhaps that's because food has always been about more than nutrients.
A bowl of soup can remind us of being cared for when we were sick.
Fresh bread can transport us to a grandmother's kitchen.
A holiday meal can bring back the laughter of family gathered around a crowded table.
A favorite recipe can keep someone's memory alive long after they are gone.
Food nourishes more than the body.
It nourishes the heart.
It nourishes the spirit.
The Table That Once Seated Twelve
As I thought about this today, I realized part of my reflection may be because it's Sunday.
For many years, Sunday meant family dinners.
The dining table in our home seated twelve.
There was always room for one more chair.
Children, friends, family members, neighbors—people gathered.
Meals were not perfect, but they were meaningful.
Conversations happened around that table.
Stories were told.
Celebrations were shared.
Life unfolded one meal at a time.
Today, my table seats six.
Life changes.
Families grow and move.
Homes get smaller.
Schedules get busier.
Yet the longing remains.
The longing is not necessarily for the food itself.
The longing is for what the food represented.
Connection.
Belonging.
Community.
Love.
A Sunday Dinner Worth Remembering
This afternoon, I am making meatballs.
Not because a nutrition app told me to.
Not because they fit a particular diet.
Not because they are trending on social media.
I'm making them because they remind me of family dinners, Sunday afternoons, and the comfort of gathering around a table.
That is nourishment too.
Creating a New Story
I understand that not everyone has pleasant memories surrounding food.
Some families experienced conflict around the dinner table.
Some grew up with scarcity.
Others experienced criticism, shame, or unhealthy relationships with food.
If that is part of your story, I honor that.
But perhaps there is still an opportunity to create a new story.
A nourishing story.
A story where food becomes an act of care instead of control.
A story where preparing a meal is a gift to yourself.
A story where sharing food becomes an expression of hospitality.
A story where nourishment includes body, mind, and spirit.
The body needs nutrients.
The mind needs peace.
The spirit needs gratitude.
A truly nourishing meal offers all three.
Beyond the Noise
Maybe the answer to food noise is not simply eating less, eating more, tracking harder, or controlling better.
Maybe part of the answer is remembering what food was always meant to be.
Food is a blessing.
Food is a gift from the earth and from the hands that prepared it.
Food is culture.
Food is family.
Food is celebration.
Food is memory.
Food is hospitality.
Food is nourishment.
So tonight, instead of asking:
"What do you want for dinner?"
Try asking:
"What sounds good?"
"What would nourish you?"
"What meal brings you comfort?"
You may discover that beneath all the noise, there is something much quieter waiting to be heard.
The simple joy of being nourished.
Body.
Mind.
And Spirit.
Practice Wellness Daily,
Elisa Travisono McClure
Elisa Travisono McClure
"Practice Wellness Daily," Dr.E
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